Sherman (biology, U. of California Riverside and The Scripps Research Institute) chronicles the 100-year quest to find a vaccine for malaria, noting that controversies, stolen ideas and clashes of egos have prevented success. Written for students, researchers and general audiences, this book uses the existing literature on the disease as well as interviews from noted scientists to explain such topics as immunity, monoclonal antibodies and recombinant DNA in clear and easy-to-understand terms. The author concludes with an analysis on why the vaccine is so elusive, and why microbe hunters and responsible leadership are essential ingredients to obtaining a solution. Annotation ©2009 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)